The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, has described the mass defections of governors and political figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as “a shame and a pity.”
Speaking as a guest on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Friday, Johnson said the motivations behind the defections remain unclear, adding “I think that the governors will know individually the reasons why they are fawning over the president or over the APC. Some have moved from the PDP and what have you. I’m not so sure it’s about good governance or about the country. It’s such a shame and a pity.
“But I hope that, at the end of the day, it’s only the people who can decide what would happen. Notwithstanding that you have 36 states and governors, something else might happen. It’s not over until it’s over. We are just entering the election year, and the elections will be held next year,” he said.
He also addressed rumours of internal defections from the party’s Kwankwasiyya movement.
“The governor hasn’t said anything to the National Working Committee or the National Executive Committee. Indeed, he (Governor Yusuf) was at the convention we held two weeks ago. But one of his aides said clearly that the people of Kano had agreed that (Rabiu) Kwankwaso and the governor should move to the APC.
“Of course, Senator Kwankwaso hasn’t agreed to such; he hasn’t told anyone, and he hasn’t permitted anyone in his group to move to the APC or any party for that matter. We’ve seen certain things occurring in the state, and it’s become very troubling and disturbing because we are a big, happy family. This is very unfortunate,” Johnson said.
He noted that the tensions should not have arisen with the general election just a year away and warned that moving to the APC would not guarantee political success.
